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STI International, Inc. – SkinnErgram #125
By Dave Skinner

STI International GP5 Pistol

STI International Guns

Georgetown, TX – -(Ammoland.com)- As promised, you get this before the SHOT Show! Not MUCH before, but before.

As anticipated, pistol production was up by 32% this year and, also as anticipated, our lead times haven’t gotten much better. We’re still at about 16 weeks with SHOT and IWA almost upon us. In as much as this is probably my last missive to you, I’m sure Mr. Dillon will give you a lead time update after SHOT and after IWA.

The new catalog is done for SHOT and will start mailing on request. There’s not much changed from the old one. You’ll no longer find the Texican there- we’ve discontinued taking orders for the time being. You won’t find the GP6-C there either, because we have a limited number left (at a MAGNIFICENT price) and are “inventorying up” on new products.

Not many new product pictures in the catalog, with the exception of the “upgraded” GP5 and GP6. While the pictures don’t show it clearly and the description isn’t specific, these now come standard with four (4) interchangeable grip inserts (back straps) at no extra charge. There should be a grip to fit every hand, perfectly! Speaking of grips, we have discontinued the “standard sized” aluminum grip for the “2011″ and will now offer only the “reduced diameter” size. If you want to see these and the other new items, you’ll need to be at SHOT or IWA for the unveiling. (Check into the website after the shows and throughout the year.) There will be further product releases during the year, several of which will be seen “behind the curtain” at SHOT for our larger Distributors.

The Custom Shop must remain closed for now. We’ve still got a lot of catching up to do.

While we ARE gearing up magazine production some at this time in response to an insane individual’s actions in Tucson, AZ, we really don’t anticipate any 1994 style legislation.

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I will now: As usual at SHOW time, we will be offering a “S.H.O.T Show Special”. If you don’t come by the booth and ask, you’ll never know what it is (unless we extend it). If you’re a Dealer, we’ll be making you a deal that you can’t refuse. (Or shouldn’t!)

And, as usual for this time of year, here is this year’s

End of the year statistics! The NUMBERS that matter to us:

1. Total revenues were up 21.1%.
2. Total guns built in house were up 32.0%.
3. Total of all guns shipped was up over 36.7%.
4. Guns available to deliver in 6 weeks or less up almost 400%.

In the continuing tug of war between our Domestic Sales Group and the folks who sell internationally, the balance of power has shifted dramatically! Last year was a dead heat with the two groups within 0.0096% of each other. (Sgram #113) This year, International blew Domestic away, 62.6% to 37.4%. The “high fives” are still resonating in the Sales Department! In our Export business, Europe has historically been the “big dog”, though in 2009 their lead had been cut to a 1.6% margin over Asia. For 2010, our Export Region winner is Asia blowing Europe away by a 5:1 margin. “Other Countries” were about half of Europe.

On the “International Distributor” front, “Nakornban Guns” in Thailand kicked it into high gear in the second half of the year to take top honors from “Thai National Trading” and “Erawan Firearms, Ltd.”, both also of Thailand. These folks not only led “International” but, also shoved “Freedom Ventures LTD” of Canada, who led all “Other” countries (as usual) into 5th place and “Buchsenmachrei Prommersberger” of Germany (who led Europe for the 4th time) into 6th place even though they each also showed dramatic and appreciated growth.

On the home, “Domestic Distributor”, front; ALL of our guys showed significant growth. (Avg. about 25%) When the smoke cleared, however, “Shooters Connection” took their first ever win with “Dawson Precision” (about 8X winner) right on his heels. “Brazos Guns” and “Brownells” slugged it out for a close third! Most improved on the domestic distributor front is “Jerry’s Sport Center” (headquartered in Pennsylvania) from whom we expect great things in 2011.

Our “Dealer” base took no prisoners this year either. “Shooters’ Station” of Conroe, Texas led the pack for the second year with “Oak Hill Enterprises” of Ulster, Pennsylvania a strong second and with “Austin Gun Liquidators” (Austin, TX) and “Shooters’ of Jacksonville” (Jacksonville, FL) in a dead heat for third! Congratulations and Thanks to all of you.

Here’s some gun stats for you. Single stack beat the doubles by a larger margin this year than last, (58% vs. 42%)

• By caliber: Single Stacks: .45 = 57%, 9mm = 37%, .40 = 5%, .38 = 1%.
• Double Stacks: .45 = 50%, 9mm = 33%, .40 = 14%, .38 = 3%.

The stats were dramatically warped, year over year, by large single stack .45ACP orders but, as you can tell from the .40S&W and .38Super stats, STI ain’t just for “competition” shooters anymore!

If you haven’t been to the new website yet, ya’ need to go there. (www.stiguns.com ) Check out “Uncle Ted” and his “Perfect 10″! If you’re new to STI catch up on past Sgrams while you’re there.

I think we’ll call this a wrap and head for Vegas. Then to the nearest “waterin’ hole”! Then on to the nearest fishin’ hole”!

SHOT Show Booth #’s 7306 & 2814 IWA Booth # 3-138

About STI:
STI International is a leading firearms manufacturer and the pioneer of the modular frame system for the 1911. A favorite of both top competitors and custom gunsmiths, STI pistols are widely regarded as the gold standard in the sport of Practical Shooting. Visit: www.STIguns.com

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STI International, Inc. – SkinnErgram #124
By Dave Skinner

STI International 100% Nugent Apporved

STI International Guns

Georgetown, TX – -(Ammoland.com)- I’m fully aware of my delinquency in publishing this!

While I managed to get one out every six weeks or so for the last dozen years, it’s been almost six months since Sgram #123 came out.

We have just been so focused on getting your lead times down that time did not permit some of our normal “niceties” (Sgram, Guestbook, Shopping Cart, etc.) happening.

As you’ve read in the previous couple missives, we’ve added floor space, equipment, partners, and personnel in an attempt to accommodate the demand for STI products. On one level, we have succeeded very well as we can tell by the increased volumes of products that our domestic Distributors are moving and by the increased number of export customers, military, and law enforcement organizations who have brought large contracts to our table.

Bottom line: While I expect our total volume of guns sold, produced, and delivered to increase (year over year) by 35-40%, our lead times haven’t gotten much better. We’re still at about 16 weeks which means we are booked solid into April (past IWA). Unfortunately, SHOT and IWA are almost upon us. Fortunately our dealers and distributors are getting much better at planning ahead, so you stand a good chance of finding what you need in their pipeline. Our larger folks have already placed their stocking orders for all of next year.

In our continuing attempts to provide you guys with the products you want and the service you expect, we will be discontinuing a couple of slow moving and/or redundant products this year (further announcements to follow) and will NOT be introducing very many new products at SHOT and IWA.

You’ll love the few we’ll have for you but it won’t be the 6-12 new products that you are used to seeing from us. On a positive note, our “partners” are continuing to provide us with excellent support and are working with us to introduce additional models throughout 2011. The Custom Shop must remain closed for a further period of time and we have a sales/management team working to reduce the number of options available per firearm thus allowing us to further streamline our manufacturing to your benefit.

As noted above, while we’re beginning to hear and read about some “doom and gloom” in our industry, we just don’t see it happening here.

From around the world: We’ve successfully added a Distributor in Serbia where we were for the IPSC European Championships earlier this year and one in Malaysia while we were there for the IPSC AustralAsian Championship. At the European, three of our European Standard Team members placed in that Divisions’ top five (including 1st & 2nd) and two of our European Open Team placed in that Divisions’ top five.

I promise to not be as delinquent on our next mailing. As usual, I’ll get one out to you (#125) after years end, but before the SHOT Show, bringing you up to date on our annual statistics; gun sizes/models, calibers, production increases, winners/losers in the distribution world domestically and internationally.

After that (#126 and beyond), probably starting with a report on SHOT, STI’s new President/CEO, Tim Dillon, will assume this delightful task. He/we still haven’t decided what his publications will be called (“Tim Talk”, “Dillon’s Dictums”, ??????) and would welcome any suggestions ya’ll might have. Please let your contact here know your ideas.

By the way, if you have not yet set up your SHOT show appointments with your STI sales rep PLEASE do so! SHOT show is a busy time for everyone and if you just show up hoping to sit down it’s likely we won’t be able to see you at that time. Finally, speaking of the SHOT show, our good friend New York Times Bestselling author Larry Correia will be autographing books at the STI main booth (#7306) on Wednesday 1/19/2011 at 3:00pm and at the STI Law Enforcement/Military booth (#2814) on Thursday 1/20/2011 at 3:00pm. For those of you who haven’t read his ‘Monster Hunter International’ series, you should!

You’re in for a treat.

About STI:
STI International is a leading firearms manufacturer and the pioneer of the modular frame system for the 1911. A favorite of both top competitors and custom gunsmiths, STI pistols are widely regarded as the gold standard in the sport of Practical Shooting. Visit: www.STIguns.com

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